Central American countries will roll out a regional digital platform to track trade facilitation reforms and deepen economic integration. The platform will help cut border times, reduce trade costs, modernize border management and promote inclusive growth.  The initiative is led by the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) with support from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and funding from the European Union.

UNCTAD and SIECA have signed a cooperation agreement to launch the UNCTAD Trade Facilitation Reform Tracker. The tool supports the Central American Strategy for Trade Facilitation and Competitiveness with an Emphasis on Coordinated Border Management 2023, the shared roadmap to make trade faster and more predictable across the region.

“The Reform Tracker focuses on coordinating and monitoring key trade facilitation reforms in real time,” said UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan. “This alliance shows the region’s commitment to the use of digital tools to improve commercial efficiency, transparency and inclusion. We are very pleased to support SIECA and its member states on their path toward regional integration by strengthening coordinated management.”